Trash Mash-Up is a community art project. Using disposable materials, collected before they enter the waste stream, participants construct “Maskostumes” which are original pageant masks and costumes inspired by traditions from around the world. This project reduces waste and inspires people to see each other and our environment in a new way.

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

As 2010 comes to a close, we would like to thank our supporters who have encouraged us over the past five years. 2010 brought many amazing gifts and opportunities for Trash Mash-Up. TMU continued its fun and educational programs serving children in San Francisco’s most undeserved neighborhoods by hosting 28 workshops with 4,500 participants total, 6 exhibits and conferences, and 5 Mash-Up Bashes. We wanted to take this opportunity to share with you the highlights.

TMU’s “Maskostumes” were on display at the Sustainability Education: Connecting Art, Science, and Design Seminar at the Center for Ecoliteracy in Berkeley, California as well as the California Public Utilities Commission.

Trash Mash-Up was thrilled to be featured again at the San Francisco Green Festival. The SF Green Festival, the nation’s largest green consumer living event, is joint project of Global Exchange and Green America.

TMU connected with thousands at the exciting events of 2010. TMU performed for 250,000 specators in the street of the Mission District at Carnaval SF.

At Stern Grove Festival, Michael Franti’s Power to the Peaceful Family Matinee and the Mill Valley Film Festival, TMU created new connections with families and children from the San Francisco Bay Area.

TMU also returned to the location of its first Mash-Up Bash four years ago at the Raymond Kimbell Athletic Field. The athletic field had been renovated by City Fields Foundation and its Ribbon Cutting Ceremony was in conjunction with Sunday Streets.

Trash Mash-Up deepened it partnership with the San Francisco Public Library. TMU offered seven workshops at three different branches over the course of the year.

TMU also continued its partnership with Mo’Magic, CommunityGrows!, and the Whitney Young Child Development Center.

Trash Mash-Up has also been in press 2010. We are thrilled to have such great supporters who continue to spread the good word about TMU.

TMU was featured in the Japanese magazine, Sotokoto, one of thirteen international organizations improving the world.

TMU was featured in San Francisco location publications, the SF Chronicle, SF Examiner and the SF Weekly.

TMU was also featured on The Plastiki Blog, which covered the story of the boat made of 12,500 plastic PET bottles, which sailed from San Francisco to Sydney, in order to raise awareness of plastic pollution.

We look forward to continuing our urban tradition where others are inspired to see each other and our environment in a new way. Each year we strengthen our mission to enrich our community by developing creative connections through workshops and performances. We hope that through our actions, people are inspired to not only use less and reuse more but to also find their own way to become engaged in their community.

We all understand the importance of learning thought the arts, and the confidence built from making something with our hands. Unfortunately, we are also aware of the crippling effect of State budget cuts on our public schools and nonprofit service organizations. TMU keeps the cost per workshop low to reach as many students and community partners as possible and looks to match the workshop fee with donations from our supporters. Every dollar you donate to Trash Mash-Up has an immediate and direct impact on our ability to keep producing workshops, exhibits and Mash-Up Bashes. Please consider making any size donation to Trash Mash-Up. Best Wishes and Happy New Year!!Bridget & Jessie McCracken

Friday, May 14, 2010

Dear Friends, As the April showers bring May flowers Trash Mash-Up is excited to hit the parks and take back our city’s public spaces for community events. The mission of Trash Mash-Up is to offer quality arts program in a community of need. Through creative reuse and multi-cultural education, TMU strives to encourage local youth in an eco-friendly life style that celebrates cultural diversity. Trash Mash-Up acts as a catalyst to unify a community and supports our neighborhood centers with quality arts programming.

We are pleased to announce these up and coming workshops:SF Public Library Bernal Heights Branch on 5/22 and 8/23 from 1:00-2:30pmSF Public Library Western Addition Branch on 7/17 and 7/31; 8/14 and 8/28 from 2-4pmHamilton Recreation Center, Western Addition on 7/23 and 7/30 from 3:30-5Stern Grove Music Festival on August 1st from Noon-1pm

We spend the year hosting workshops where we create “Maskostumes” with local youth and then exhibit these pieces in community events. A true cross-section of local residents come together in shared arts experience at Trash Mash-Up’s “Mash-Up Bashes”. Transforming parks and city squares with a visual spectacle made of music, movement, and “Maskostumes”, spectators enjoy works of art created from things discarded by one person and given new life through another’s imagination. Through workshops and public performances, Trash Mash-Up encourages people to feel connected to one another, to be proud of their creative achievements, and to be responsible for their environment.

We are excited about two up coming “Mash-Up Bashes”:San Francisco Carnaval, Sunday, May 30thAnd TMU’s “Mash-Up Bash” Kimball Playground, Western Addition Sunday, September 19th

As one of the city’s most spectacular traditions, San Francisco Carnaval showcases the very best of Latin American and Caribbean cultures and traditions with a diverse array of food, music, dance and artistry, including works created by the talented community of Mission District residents and Bay Area artists. This year, TMU has partnered with Abraham Lincol High School Drama Club; the Whitney Young Child Development Center Bay View Site Dancers and Recology, formerly Norcal Waste Systems. This event is guaranteed fun and excitement.

Save the date for the September 19th “Mash-Up Bash”, it will be a true celebration. Bridget and I created TMU five years ago and have been offering quality arts programming in neighborhood centers and schools ever since. We look forward to gathering our TMU partners and participants for a wonderful afternoon.

TMU is always in need of volunteers. Individuals who are interested in participating in workshops and parades should contact us by email at trashmashup@gmail.com

Another way to support Trash Mash-Up and show your TMU pride is by purchasing a one-of-a-kind shirts, originally designed and silk screened by TMU’s own Jessie McCracken! TMU’s boutique is full of colorful, gently used T-shirts of all sizes. The T-shirts are $15-$20, sliding scale plus shipping and handling. Saving the world never looked so good! Send TMU an email with your size request.

Trash Mash-Up would like to share with you our great accolades in the press. TMU was featured in Japan's Sotokoto Magazine The article features international nonprofits that are changing the world. We are proud to be in company of such great people making change in their communities. TMU featured as an emerging nonprofit in the San Francisco Examiner . We are so pleased to be recognized in the Bay Area as a nonprofit to watch. We hope you will continue to support Trash Mash-Up as we grow and thrive.

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

According to a recent Reader’s Digest poll, the greatest green guilt internationally was not recycling enough. Of the 15 countries polled in the study, nine countries reported a lack in recycling as the No. 1 green guilt of their respondents, followed by wasting water. See link below for the article.

Earth911 has a great resource online that can help anyone in the USA find a recycling center. Go to, http://earth911.com/

Those who live in a city without curbside recycling can be more vocal with local leaders.

About Me

Trash Mash-Up is a community art project. Using disposable materials, collected before they enter the waste stream, participants construct “Maskostumes” which are original pageant masks and costumes inspired by traditions from around the world. This project reduces waste and inspires people to see each other and our environment in a new way.